MARK HUGHES last night vowed to be in charge of Wales' next World Cup qualifying campaign whatever happens in the Euro 2004 play-off against Russia over the next eight days.

Speculation is rife that Welsh boss Hughes could be head-hunted by a leading Premiership club if Wales fail to qualify for next year's finals in Portugal.

But, speaking about being linked with the No 2 vacancy at his former club Manchester United as well as the manager's job at Tottenham, Hughes maintained yesterday he has a contract with the Welsh FA until 2006.

And he insisted he intends to honour it.

"I am contracted with Wales until 2006 and unless someone tells me differently that's what I will be doing," said Hughes.

"If a manager is perceived to be doing a reasonable job then there will always be speculation linking him to jobs.

"I would like to think people believe I have done a good job with Wales - but I don't anticipate my job description changing."

In the past Hughes has been talked about as a possible manager for Preston, Blackburn and Southampton.

And with Spurs searching for a successor to Glenn Hoddle and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson still having not replaced assistant Carlos Queiroz as his No 2, talk of Hughes leaving Wales for club football has failed to go away.

But as he prepares to lead his Dragons into a two-legged shoot-out with the Russians. Hughes has pushed such speculation to the back of his thoughts.

"My focus is only on this play-off with Russia. I have not been thinking about things such as being supposedly wanted by clubs," he insisted.

"My focus is only on the two games in hand and I don't want to talk about things I haven't been focusing upon."

Wales travel to Moscow tomorrow for Saturday's first leg at the Lokomotiv Stadium without key men.

Hughes, already without Craig Bellamy, yesterday learned he is also definitely missing Spurs midfielder Simon Davies, who is sidelined with a groin injury.

Another of his key men, Fulham midfielder Mark Pembridge, is another major doubt with a calf strain and appears to be losing his battle to make the Moscow mission.

Hughes, who last fielded his first-choice XI in the Euro qualifier against Italy in Cardiff in October 2002, finds himself having to chop and change for Wales' biggest match for a decade.

"We have lost players, influential players. Obviously, that's not ideal for us. It doesn't make my job any easier," he said.

"You always want your best players available, but I've not had many occasions where I've had my strongest team available to me.

"But we have to cope with the losses. We have good players in our squad and these games are an opportunity for one or two players to impress and make a name for themselves.

"The play-off is an ideal platform for them because these are two huge games."

Hughes, who took over the Wales reins from Bobby Gould in 1999, went on, "Four years of work rests on these 180 minutes against Russia.

"This is the best prepared Welsh team and also the best informed. We're in good shape. for the challenge.

"If we don't qualify then it's because the opposition is better than us.

"It won't be because we haven't addressed something or because the players didn't approach games in the right manner.

"If we don't make it to Portugal it's because we weren't good enough and we have to hold our hands up and say so."